Apparatus for automatically glazing elements arranged on flexible bands, particularly for coloring sliding clasp fasteners



y 7 E. ARMARI APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GLAZING ELEMENTS ARRANGED ON FLEXIBLE BANDS, PARTICULARLY FOR COLORING SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Flled March 14, 1950 Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GLAZ- ING ELEMENTS ARRANGED ON FLEXIBLE BANDS, PARTICULARLY FOR COLORING SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Ettore Armari, Qhiasso, Switzerland Application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,608 In Switzerland March 14, 1949 spond with the color of a textile band on which the fasteners are mounted. In general this type of color operation has been previously performed by spraying coloring matter through manual control and operation and thus necessitates employment of suitable protecting or masking means to shield or protect the supporting textile band.

Obviously, manual control and operation is laborious and the result obtained does not always satisfy the particular requirements.

Accordingly, the present invention has for an object to provide coloring apparatus which is automatically controlled responsive to the presence or absence of articles to be colored in a particular zone of the apparatus adjacent a spray gun or nozzle.

Accordingly the invention includes a conveying and guiding means for at least one flexible band on which the articles to be colored are carried and includes further a stationary masking or protecting means provided with at least one opening of a predetermined width and through which project at least a part of the surface of each article or object to be colored. The apparatus further includes at least one spray nozzle adapted to project coloring matter on to the object to be colored during the time interval that the-articles pass by and project through the opening or openings provided in the masking means. I

The apparatus likewise includes in combination with the spray nozzle or nozzles, means adapted to automatically control the operation thereof in dependence upon the presence or absence in the space between the edges defining the opening in the masking means, of the objects to be colored.

The attached drawing illustrates by way of example, an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus.

, Figures 2 and 3 are sections-on an enlarged scale on lines II--II and IIIIII of Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a partial front elevation of the 13 Claims. (Cl. 118--2) 2 masking means with the spray nozzle removed.

The apparatus illustrated includes a conveying drum l0 keyed on a shaft l2, suitably carried in supports provided in a frame of the apparatus, not shown. On one end of the shaft [2 is keyed a pulley l4 rotated by a belt or other suitable transmission means driven by a motor 15.

Drum I0 is provided,-on the middle of its peripheral surface with a groove I6, so dimensioned that it may receive the elements B which are to be colored and which are embodied with or carried by the flexible band C. As shown, the groove 16 is of less depth than the thickness of the elements B so that the latter project above the adjacent peripheral surface of the drum on opposite sides of the groove.

The drumj'lo has at its edges two rims I8 which, together with the middle groove l6, form a part of the guide member. The peripheral surface of drum I0 is suitably provided with teeth or milled; for the purpose of exerting an engaging action on the flexible bandC.

Along a part of the peripheral surface of drum 10 are disposed curved metallic strips 20, which are arranged in front of the peripherally milled surface of the drum I0 and are so arranged as to form together, with said surface a pair of effective guide surfaces which preferably extend from the upper part of the drum to and terminate after having extended through an arc greater than 90 degrees.

The metallic strips 20 have at their upper ends curved elements 22 adapted to facilitate, in the manner hereinafter described, the insertion of the flexible band, supporting thev objects to be colored. Said curved elements 22 are combined with a plate 24 on which is placed the flexible band to be inserted in the curved channel or opening formed between the strips 20 and the periphery of the drum I0. I

' Pairs of rollers 26 cause the metallic strips 20 and the flexible band C to adhere to the periphery of drum l0 and guide this latter when it is discharged at the lower part of the above curved channel. The adherence of these bands may also be effected in another manner, as for instance, by means of springs suitably applied and pressing against the metallic strips.

A cover or shield '28 is arranged in correspondence with the horizontal diameter of drum l0 and is provided in its bottom 30, see Fig. 4, with an opening or split 32 of substantial size, that is the opening extending a substantial distance above and below the axis of the nozzle and through which opening project a part of the metallic elemanner with a compressedair source-g rhe va ve member 36 controlling saidnozzle'is connected through suitable linkages, with a lever 38', which in its turn, is connected with the armature of an electromagnet 49, the energization of" which is controlled by contacts 42 suitably'prote'cted'and controlled by a double-arm lever 4G, one arm-t5- of which is suitably profiled and is arranged in correspondence to the groove 15 of the drum-w:

This arm 45 is disposed in a suitable angular position, with respect to the"drurn Iii, -soas to together with th contact's 42constitute; iri'eiiect, actuating means to control -the' electi'oniagnet 4:3 mace-mann r as'WlH be -Se't -fbith hereinafter. Tileewer 2 8 has a-n-u pejr opening with; which communicates 'a suction pipe 45 and at its lower side a tankiil for collecting the '-'varnish;

- The apparatus is completed by a scraping member 657' pl aced ihcbrrespo'fidehce to the lower part of the dr'um i l and which sci'aping ineni'ber or blade rljerr'ic'n'le s-froin thegroove-W5 the-coloring material deposited therein I'nf' correspondence to the low'e'r'part of the drum -a'*- reel 48* is arrangedon which is wound the flexible bandcarrying the colored elements, so that the drying of the same can' be-elfected'.

The-winding of saidban'd' o'n the-'reeli8 is helically effected-in order to avoidoverlapping which: would have 'delet'er-iouseife'cts on the freshly colored elements. It is obvious that the reel may be omitted when shortpie'ce's are colored, or when theapparatusis provided' with drying means; suchasinfra red' ray lam-ps past which thei band andco'ldi'ed elementspass tobe dried.

It is believed evident-"that when a hand' prov'id'e'd with the elements to be colored or glazed is placed o'nfthe-plate wand-moves there'alon'g the milled surface of thedruinbetween the latter andthe'ciirv'ed guide plate 2i); the'rifthe rotation of the drum feeds or moves-theband The metallic elements B to-be colored are disposed with their lower" part inthe groove" l5" and with their upper part: projecting intothe" s'plit or" opening formed b'y'the racin 'stn s at When the first -o'f said elemehtsarrlves in correspondence-to the-position of arm iii'of' leverl-il, it'co'ntac'ts arid'moves sa'id lever" which movement closes; the contact device 42- and' energises' the electromagnet All}. This latter opens the valve member 35Kthus' effecting spra in'gtrcoloring material with the-spraying superjacent the upper periphery of nozzle Whilst, when closing the valve member, the last of said group of elements lies closely subjacent the lower periphery of said nozzles 3%.

In such a manner it is possible to continuously and automatically color the elements B, depending upon th presence or absence of the elements B in front of the spray nozzle 34.

The rotational speed of the drum 10 may be suitably varied through interposition of a change speedgear between the motor IS-andthe belt transmission to the drum, independence upon work performed. Also the opening or split 32 may be of variable width in dependence upon the dimensions-of the elements B to be colored. The width betvveeflthetwo curved metallic strips 29 maybe also varied.

Althoughthere "has been described and shown a particular form of an apparatus for coloring themetallic' elements of sliding clasp fasteners, sa'id-apparatus may serve also for a continuous coloring of any object placed on or carried by bands.

What-I claim is:

1. Apparatus for automatically coating articles particularly" "for coloringslide fasteners arranged substantially in the longitudinal central zoneoffieX-ible bands; coniprisi ng' in combination', a rotatable drumlrneans for controlably rotating the"- same, -said" drum having at least-one peripheral groove therein for-[accom- Ino'datinga= fiexime- 1 hand having slide fasteners associated therewith} masking-'- m'ean's combined with a -poi'tion of the-periphery of said d-r'um and 'including means" defining an opening: of predetermined dimensions past which" opening said i band and fasteners" pass, spraying means combined w'ith said 1 mashing means and including at least 'o'ne controllable spraynozzle directed toward said opening and through which coloring 'material is" projected} and electro-mechanical means operativelyassociated with the nozzle" and including" actuating means disposed adjacent said openingand operable responsive to the passage of said b'and-forcontrolling the nozzles and thereby the passage of material through said" nozzle so that said' controllable nozzle'is operative upon' -actuationpf saidelectrof-mechanic'at means to spray material: when said hand and the fastenersthereon= are passing before said opening and inoperative-when said" band and=fasteners are not passing in v front-- of" said opening.

2'} Apparat'u's as definedin and by claim 1 in whieh' said electro-mechanical meansincliidesfactuating' means comprising a double arm lever, anelectric contact device controlled by'onearm' of saidlever; the other arm of the lever being disposedto cooperate with the fasten'ers passing by said opening, and an electro magnet-controlled by the contact device includinglanarmature-a, valve forsaid spray nozzle and mechanical means connecting said armature' with said valve so that movement of the armature responsive to closing or opening of thecontact device effects closing or opening of the-valve.

3; Apparatus for automatically coating articlesparticularly for coloring slide fasteners'arrange'd substantially in the longitudinal central zone" of flexible bands, comprising in' combination, a drum rotatable about a horiz'ont'al axis, s'aiddrum h'avingat-leasto'ne peripheral groove thereinof a depth less than the thickness' of the articles to be colored and said groove"- receiving the articles with the band contacting the peripheral surface of the drum adjacent thegroove and a portionof each article projecting above the'saidadjacentperipheral s'ur'- face, spaced curved stripsmounted-' in spaced relation with respect to and conforming to the periphery of the drum with the spacing between the strips substantially conforming to the width of the groove and the space between the strips and the periphery of the drum defining a curved channel through which passes the flexible band carrying the articles, said articles having dimensions such as to project above the upper face of the strips, a spray nozzle directed toward the periphery of the drum, shielding means including a plate member having an opening therein registering with the space defined by the said strips and extending a substantial distance above and below the axis of the nozzle,

' said plate member being disposed between the drum and the spray nozzle and overlying and shielding the band on the opposite sides of the articles, a substantially horizontal plate mounted in juxaposition of the upper peripheral surface of the drum at the upper end of said curved channel defined between the drum periphery and the curved strips for receiving the band in feeding position relative to the upper part of the drum, and electro-mechanical means for controlling said nozzle and including actuating means disposed adjacent said opening and operable responsive to the passage of said band and the articles thereon past said opening for controlling said spray nozzle so that the latter is operative to spray material upon the actuation of said electro-mechanical means'when the first article on the band has moved to a position superjacent the axis of the nozzle and at said opening and inoperative to spray material when the last article on the band has moved past the same position.

4. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 3 including spaced rims provided on the peripheral surface of the drum and constituting guide members for the edges of the flexible band.

5. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 4 in which a pair of rollers are mounted at arcuately spaced positions for urging the flexible band against the peripheral surface of the drum.

6. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 5 in which at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the drum is roughened to facilitate feeding action of the band.

7. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 6 in which scraping means are provided adjacent the lower part of the drum to remove the excess coloring material deposited thereon.

8. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 7 and a collecting reel mounted adjacent the drum for receiving the band with the articles thereon.

9. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 8 in which the said reel is so disposed and rotated that the band is helically wound thereon.

10. Apparatus'as defined in and by claim 3 and drying means mounted adjacent the lower part of the drum through which pass the band and the articles to be dried.

11. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 10 in which the drying means comprises infra-red ray lamps.

12. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 3 in which a shielding cover is incorporated with said plate and a suction pipe communicating with said cover.

13. Apparatus as defined in and by claim 12 in which the said plate constitutes the bottom of said cover.

ETTORE ARMARI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,654,214 Evans Dec. 2'7, 1927 1,913,610 Ornsteen June 13, 1933 2,016,316 Collins Oct. 8, 1935 2,197,742 Burk Apr. 16, 1940 2,378,599 Thornton June 19, 1945 2,382,065 Koppeler Aug. 14, 1945 2,421,343 Mageoch May 27, 1947 2,462,848 Denyssen et al. Mar. 1, 1949 

